Saint-Pierre-de-Vassols

Saint- Pierre -de- Vassols ( Occitan: Sant Peire de Vassòus ) is a municipality with 492 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Vaucluse region of Provence- Alpes -Cote d' Azur in southeastern France.

Location

Saint- Pierre -de- Vassols is located five kilometers south of the Mont Ventoux, ten kilometers from Carpentras and 35 kilometers from Avignon. The place is surrounded by an agricultural plain.

History

The place was first mentioned in 1262 as Villa Vazolis and Sanctus Joannis de Vassols. Nearby Neolithic remains have been found, showing that the southern flank of Mount Ventoux was settled early. The ruins of the Roman period are the remains of villas. From the Middle Ages came the Benedictine Abbey of St- Jean -de- Vassols in the north, which was abandoned after the destruction. Saint- Pierre -de- Vassols was part of the papal fief, until it came under the rule of the Bishops of Carpentras.

Economy

The small community is dominated by agriculture, and viticulture. The mounted wine belongs to the Appellation d' Origine (AOC ) Côtes du Ventoux. The best known is the Well Château Valcombe, 23 hectares of vineyard quality is its red wine mainly from the Syrah and the white, oak colored wine La Sereine from Grenache and Roussanne.

Culture

At the edge of the village, the German painter, sculptor and graphic artist Paul Wunderlich lived with his wife Karin Székessy a large country house in a sculpture -lined park. The two artists lived and worked mainly in the summer months. Wunderlich died on June 6, 2010 in Saint- Pierre -de- Vassols.